October SI, 1887. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDEN EB. 



339 



Weight of Wood (B. C). — It is qnite Imposstblo for as to toll how 

 many cubic (eot of " stroen or ucwiy-cut" wood woiihl wuigh n ton, so 

 maoD dpppnds upon tliu i»k« o( the treo nnd tho aoHson. Wo ciin only tell 

 you tbe wui«ht of n cubit- foot when dry of tbc woods you niimc. A cubic 

 loot of Ilouch weiKba. 46 llw. 4 ozs. ; of Ash, 47 lbs. 8 ozs. ; nud of Spruce, 

 89 Ibd. From tbcao dtita you may approximftto to tho informtttion you 

 •«ek. 



Rl-AKnASOisc. A CfAnnEN (rornuKo).— Wo aijroo with your i^cncrnl pro- 

 poned plans, but wo arc doubtful if tbe liiwn-i,Tound to Ibo south slopes 

 from tho lioust), or to tho bouse. At nny rate, wo presume timt tho banii 

 at tbe south boundary, and beneath which the orchard is to be placed, is 

 S feet hiuber than the basin-lawn. If tho lawn slopes to tbe south, then 

 It would be ui..ro artistic it that lenRth of 151) feet were made into two 

 slopes instead of one, though that is a matter of tasto. We approve of 

 the sloping Itank ou the east and west aides of tho enbircod lawn : but we 

 cannot any tliat wo approve of tho proposed shape of this lawn, brinKiu« 

 the twn siiles into a sharp ant.'le near the centre, aud maluii^' the wallt on 

 each aide correspond, forn»in»^ thus an unseemly auwle of travel without 

 any detinite puri)ose or object. If tho lawn were not to be siiuaro, or the 

 aides to bo uniform with tlie house, it would be better if tho two aides 

 formetl an easy graceful curve without any sharp uuK'le. These side 

 walks or roads wo presume would be necessary, but tho less they arc seen 

 from the windows the bettor, as gravel in itself is no attraction to the 

 eye, and is ouly tolerated on account of its utility. As to the joining 

 these side walks at tho soutbcro boundarv- or bank, throe courses aro avail- 

 oblo—elther briuR the walk inside of the bank, or take it outside on tho 

 orchard-part of the ground, or if the walk on the top of tho mound would 

 be an eyesore and interfere at all with the line distant view, tlien bring it 

 iu a tunnel imdcruealh the bank. Tho entrances to this tunnel would be 

 good places for collections of rock pUnts and hardy Ferns. With your 

 sloping banks on each side of the lawn, and the lawn kept neatly, it will 

 bo an advantage, that though these walks aro made for convenience, they 

 shall be seen as little as possible from the wiMdowa. Tho moving of the 

 fru't trees so as to increase the lawn is a good idea, but keep in mind 

 tluit a lawn is even more exitensive to ke( p than flower-beds. With your 

 sloping shrubberies, &c , we approve of liaving bnt few trees on your 

 lawn. As to drooping hardy plants, few things will bo better than tho 

 Weepin* Ash, the Weeping Willow, and Weeping Cytisus ; and for orna- 

 ment, what can surpass the Deodar Cedar, tho Araucaria, and tho Pine 

 tribe with which you are conversant — say, such as Picea pinsapo and 

 Finns oxcolsa ".' A large vase or two, or baskets, would look better than 

 beds on such a lawn, and these might be combined iu a pretty group with 

 yonr proposed sundial in the centre. U is impossible for any one to give 

 more detinite directions about altering a place without seeing it, and 

 taking all the attendant matters into consideration, and for a work of this 

 extent, if at all <loubtful as to how to proceed, it would be well to have 

 tho advice of a professional man. 



Flower-Gaupkn Plantino (V. Z., B^-i-oir'.— Suppose you plant your 

 central oval l>ed thus — 1. Centre Gladiolus and Salvia fulgens mixed; 

 3, Perilla nankinensia; 8, Calceolaria amplexicaulis, or Aurantia multi- 

 flora ; 4. Christine Pelargonium ; C, Purple King Verbena ; fi, Koniga 

 maritima; then tbe two side circles we would make alike, as 1, Scarlet 

 Pelargonium ; 2, Madame Vnucher ; 8, Iresine llerbstii, which should do 

 exceedingly well in Devon : 4. ligbt-ooloured Heliotrope or white Verbena ; 

 B, Little David, Harry Hieover^ or Harkaway Pelargonium. Then your 

 other two fan-beds we would just transpose, placing Verbenas where tbe 

 Calceolarias were last year, and vice-vt:r»ti. 



Tl'RFiNo Croquet Lawn (/■', ,S'.). — After you have trenched the ground 

 as you propose, the old turf being turned in. you must allow the ground 

 to lie some lime before turfing, so thtit it may settle, otherwise it will settle 

 into holes. We sliould prefer trenching now and leaving the groimd 

 rongh until February, or early in March, by which time it would have 

 ennk. Then, during "a dry time, we would make it quite level and firm, 

 and lay down the best turf we could procure. This will be better than 

 sowing grass seeds, os you will have tho benefit of tho ground almost at 

 once, for after it has been well beaten and ruUed yon can use it ; but if 

 you wore to sow it with grass seeds it would not be fit to use the same 

 year. If you give a liberal top-dressing of rich compost over the newly- 

 laid tnrf, and early iu .\prjl rake it, and sow- over it 4 lbs. per acre of 

 Cynosurus cristatus; 4 lbs. Festuca duriuscula; 2 lbs. Poa nenioralis; 

 4 1b3. Fostuca tenuifolia : 'i Iba. Trifolium repens : and 4 lbs. Trifolium 

 xninns, rolling well after sowing, and then leaving the ground untouched 

 for six w-eeks, we think you will find a good thick bottom will be foruied. 

 You cannot roll it loo often, nor bo over careful in laying tho turf, as a 

 little extra care taken at first will save much labour afterwards. Do not 

 mow in too closely the first season, nor, indeed, at any time during dry 

 weather should crociuct lawns be cut very bare. 



Top-DREssiNo Strawberry-beds (J. T. C'.^. — You should at once place 

 manure upon the vacant space between the plants and rows. Good well- 

 rotted manure is best. Tho plants will most likely bear fruit next year ; 

 but wo think from their age that the fruit will be small. 



PRoPAOATlNd El-oenia ugni [K. S. C).— Eugonia ngni is propagated 

 by cuttings of tho half-ripened wood. The points of the young shoots 

 should bo taken ofl" when tho wood has become somewhat firm about 

 8 inches from the end of tbe shoot, or in the condition known to gar- 

 donors as half-ripe. The cuttings should be about 3 inches long, anil 

 should be cut across below the lowest leaf with a sharp knife, and have 

 the leaves removed half way up the cutting. They may then be inserted 

 wnnd the sides of a six-inch pot, half filled with crocks, and then filled 

 to within an inch of the rim with a compost of two-thirds sandy peat, 

 one-third loam, adding and incorporating as much silver sand as will 

 amount to one-fourth of the whole. The pot should be filled to the rim 

 with silver sand, and the cuttings put in up to their remaining leaves. 

 Tbe cutting-pot should bo inserted in one of larger size, and tliu interval 

 between tbe pots should be filled with small pieces of broken pots to 

 within an inch of the rims of both pots, which should be <m the same 

 level, and that inch should then be tilled up w-ith silver sand. A gentle 

 watering may then bo given, and a bell-glass bo placed over tho cuttings, 

 BO that it may rest on tbe sand between the rims of tho pots. The pots 

 may then be placed in a mild hotbed of from 70 to 75 ^ or in any house 

 where there is a gentle heat. Shade the cuttings from sun, and tilt the 

 bell-glass a little on one side at night. Care should bo taken not to over- 

 water, but the sand ought to be kept moist. When the cuttings begin to 

 grow the bell glass should be gradually raised, and by degrees removed, 

 and thq shading most bo lessened and gradually removed, in proportion 



as the plants or cnttings ondarn tho son's rays without flagging. When 

 well rooted tho plunta should be potted off. You may also propagate by 

 layers. A vlgorons shoot layered in a small pot In spring will be well 

 rooted by autumn. 



WixTERiNo CiiRVSANTnEMUMs ASD FocHsiAS (A. (J.).— Ton may winter 

 Fuchsias in a cellar it yon merely keep them from frost and bavo the 

 soil dry, so that gro«-th may not toke place. The soil, however, ahould 

 not be so dry as to cause tho wood to shrivel. You cannot well keep 

 Chrvsanthemums in a cellar, as they grow more or less during the 

 winter. They aro best wintered in a cold frame, or they will succeed 

 outdoors in any sheltered aituation it turned out of tho pots, or if the 

 pots are plunged to the rim in coal ashes. The protection of a mat or 

 other covering must bo afforded during very severe weather. 



Gkapes in OncnARD-nocsE (Wrm).— The Esperione is a few days in 

 advance of tho Black Hamburgh in ripening in a cold orcbard-bonso 

 where no fire heat is used. Tlio Early White Malvasia is the sarlicst 

 Grape you con have. Foster's White Seedling is a much better Orape, 

 and the Koval Muscadine is also good. 



Everoreess in Pots for Pi.uNonio in a Bed (A Prnclufr).— Yon 

 could not have anything bettor than compact bushes of Launislinos, 

 which flowers during winter it tho weather is mild. Moderate-sizeU 

 plants of Cupressua Lawsoniana look well; also Thujopsis borealia, 

 Aucuba. Box, and gold and silver voriogatod Hollies. Any of tho above 

 will suit you. 



Peach Trees Unhealthy (Hem).— Your trees having rank wood at 

 tho upper part are probably indiflerently trained. You should cut out 

 the weak shoots and branches, and fill their places by depressing tho 

 vigorous branches and shoots. This will to a great extent overcome the 

 deficiency ot healthy wood at the bottom ; bnt if your trees are for the 

 most part over-luxuriant, vou may now take them up carefully, if not very 

 old and replant, ofter cutting awav any long roots that go straight down 

 bv the wall or under the stem of the tree, adding some fresh soil, tnrty 

 rather strong loam being best. Too much soil cannot be retained about 

 tho roots in the lifting, nor can the Hbres or small roots be too csre- 

 f uUv preserved. Now is a good time to lilt Peach trees. Keep the roots 

 I near the surface, avoiding deep planting, and do not cover them with 

 ' more than 6 inches of soil. If the stems of tho trees are slightly raised, 

 and they appear as if on a cone or small mound, all the better. Mulch 

 around tho stems, as far as the roots extend, with 2 or 8 inches of litteiy 

 manure. 



WiBEWoRM IX TcRF FOR VlNEDORDEB (E. S. C.).— In turning yonr 

 sods over you mav sprinkle fresh soot over each layer ot turt as it is 

 turned, and that will drive them away to a great extent. We aro now 

 making several new Vino borders, and wo find the wircworra does not like 

 tho materials of which tho bolder is composed— namely, turf from a 

 pasture where the soil is of a rather light gravelly nature, six parts ; hme 

 rubbish from an old bnilding, two parts : calcined oyster shells, marl, lump 

 charcoal, and broken or bruised bones in etiual quantities, two parts. The 

 insects in tho turf are making their way to the pathway, evidently nn- 

 able to live in tbe mixture, which we find tho best of anytl-ing we have 

 tried for Vine borders. — G. A. 



White Ciematis to Flower in July ( B<-))j>o).— Clematis Helena la 

 not of the Clematis monlana race, and it does not flower so early. It 

 will probably suit you: but you will find it difllcult to bloom Clematises 

 at one time, and especially at the same time as C. Jackmanni, 



Magnolia TRirET.iLA (Wc m).— It does not generally bloom until May, 

 continuing till .Tune, and we do not remember having seen it in flower so 

 carlv as the middle of April; but it may occasionally bloom in .4pril in 

 warm situations. It is a Irec-blooming tree but requires to be ot a good 

 size nnd age to bloom well. 



CLnrorNo Plants with Ornamental Foliaoe ( ).— Vitia vinilera 



variegata, having every appearance of a weak-growing Vine, but with 

 leaves beautifuUv marked with silvery ond pink variegation on a green 

 ground, is the only reallv good variegated climber for outdoor work. 

 There is, however, a verv promising golden or yellow-leaved variety of 

 the Sweet Jasmine (Jasniinum officinale foliis anreiai, that may prove 

 good. It is as vet very scarce. The best variegated climbers for outdoor 

 trellises will be" found among the Iv-ies. Three good varieties are Hedera 

 helix cbrvsopbvlla. which has some of the leaves green, others yellow, 

 nnd some' blotched with yellow ; Hedera helix argentea mbra, with white 

 stripes on the leaves, which in winter are margined and veined with red; 

 and H. helix maculota. which has leaves curiously marked, veined, and 

 spotted with white. Three good flowering climbers tor a trellis are Aris- 

 toloebia sipho. Clematis lanuginosa, or C. Jackmanni, and Jasmmom 

 oflicinale grandiflorum. — G. A. 



Camellia Flower-buds Fallino (H. H'.).— Tbe buds enclosed exhi- 

 bited those appearances which wo find result from an inactive state of 

 the roots. The evil mav be caused by imperfect drainage, and most 

 likely by the buds being more numerous than the roots can support. 

 Were you now to thin them considerably we think those left might yet 

 expand. 



Alpine Plants (Jekirmlh rounA-cr).— By the term alpine, as applied 

 to phmts. is meant plonts that grow in monntainous tracts, where there 

 is generally a great diversity of formation, in some places little bCTond 

 rocks. When wo ascend to regions that, from their altitude, are difflcnlt 

 of access, we mav be said to be in alpine situations, and plants coming 

 from such are c.-illed alpine plants. By a common English plant becom- 

 ing trailing in alpine situations, we should understand one which, thongh 

 erect and strong in warm deep soil, assumes a trailing habit when grown 

 in colder and more elevated positions. 



Scabborocoh LitT (Idem).— The proper name of the Scarborongh Lily 

 is Vallota purpurea. 



Vines Mildewed (.4 Sii'>«frit,.r).— Sulphur applied to tho hot-water 

 pipes when heated to a temperature ot 170 ought to have given off 

 lunies that would check mildew ; but we fear you did not continue the 

 painting of the pipes long enough, nor cover a sufficient extent ot them 

 to completely fill the house with the sulphur lumes, otherwise we know 

 these will d'estrov mildew. The best remedv, however, is to dust with 

 the sulphur the leaves and parts affected. This will effectnally destroy 

 tbe mildew. You must not burn sulphur in the houses this winter, as 

 that will destrov all vegetable lite ; but you may paint tbe Vines with a 

 composition of flowers ot sulphur, 1 lb. : ground tobacco, 1 lb. ; soft soap, 

 8 ozs. ; unslacked lime, 1 lb. Dissolve and mix in a gallon of woter, and, 



